Pursuing a career in student affairs can be both rewarding and grueling. It’s a field composed of various roles and departments—ranging from residential life and student activities to academic advising, admissions, and orientation. Each area brings unique challenges and requires a deep commitment to student development.
However, while working in student affairs presents its own set of hurdles, navigating the job market within the field can be even more daunting—especially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. The already competitive job search process has intensified, leaving many professionals scrambling for opportunities that align with their experience and training.
The Shifting Reality for Student Affairs Professionals
Finding meaningful employment in student affairs has become increasingly difficult. Many professionals entered the field out of passion for working with students, only to face stagnant salaries, high turnover, and limited growth. Despite wanting to stay in higher education, the scarcity of positions often pushes people to reconsider their options.
It’s a harsh reality—within five years, it’s common for over half of new professionals to exit the field altogether. This trend is often influenced by compensation that doesn’t match the cost of degrees and certifications required to enter student affairs. Many discover that similar roles exist outside academia with significantly better compensation and work-life balance.
It’s important to emphasize: stepping away from higher education is not a personal failure. It’s often a strategic, reflective decision that supports personal growth and evolving career goals.
Broadening Your Career Horizon
Professionals in student affairs, like faculty members, often conduct job searches with a narrow focus—targeting only roles within their familiar functional areas. But broadening that scope can open doors to opportunities that are both fulfilling and financially sustainable.
Start by asking yourself what you truly want from your next role. Do you want to pursue further education? Relocate closer to family? Do work that directly impacts others? These questions often get overlooked during job searches, yet they’re essential to finding a role that supports both your personal and professional growth.
It’s also critical to recognize the difference in hiring practices between academia and other industries. Academic hiring is infamously slow, often taking several months. In contrast, industries outside higher ed may move quickly, requiring job seekers to be adaptable and responsive.
Taking Ownership of Your Career Direction
Choosing to transition out of higher education should be an empowered, intentional decision—made not out of desperation, but from a desire to take control of your future. Your next role should reflect your interests and strengths, not just your academic history. The ideal position is one that excites you and aligns with your capabilities.
Building the Bridge: From Academia to Industry
Shifting to a new industry can feel overwhelming. But by preparing strategically, you can demonstrate the relevance of your student affairs experience in new professional contexts.
The key is showcasing your transferable skills—such as communication, project management, conflict resolution, and leadership—and clearly connecting them to the needs of employers outside academia. Hiring managers need to see the link between what you’ve done and what you’re capable of doing.
This argument should be reflected in your résumé, cover letter, and interview responses. For instance, you might explain how your role in residence life taught you to mediate disputes and manage crises or how advising opportunity program students honed your mentorship and planning skills.
Just as important as the “what” is the “why.” Are you moving toward a more flexible work environment? Higher pay? A new challenge? Clarifying your motivation will help you stay focused on finding roles that match your evolving aspirations.
Practical Steps Toward Career Change
Whether you’re currently unemployed or exploring new paths while still employed, the first step is identifying roles that match your experience. If you’re working, consider how to communicate your goals with your current supervisor—ideally one who is supportive and understanding.
Next, take inventory of your professional strengths. These transferable skills, built through years in student affairs, are assets in adjacent roles across industries. Rather than downplaying your academic background, use it as a foundation that demonstrates your ability to learn, lead, and support others.
When applying to new positions, tailor your materials to highlight how your experience applies outside of higher ed. If a job calls for strong interpersonal skills and program coordination—skills you’ve used to run student events or orientation programs—make that connection explicit.
Finally, target organizations and roles that align with your core values. If your passion lies in helping others grow, consider roles in nonprofit management, training and development, or educational technology. The key is understanding what drew you to student affairs and finding new contexts in which that purpose can thrive.
Identifying Transferable Skills
Student affairs professionals often develop a wide range of versatile skills. These include:
- Communication: Articulating ideas clearly across different platforms—email, video, in-person, phone, etc.
- Education and Advising: Teaching, mentoring, and guiding others through complex systems.
- Conflict Resolution: Mediating disagreements and supporting student well-being.
- Project Management: Planning, executing, and evaluating programs and initiatives.
- Data and Assessment: Collecting feedback and using analytics to improve services.
- Diversity and Inclusion: Advocating for equity and supporting underrepresented groups.
Being able to clearly express how these skills translate into other sectors is crucial when pursuing roles beyond academia.
The Power of Networking
Don’t underestimate the impact of professional connections. Networking—especially through informational interviews—can open doors that job boards can’t. Conversations with those who’ve successfully made the leap can offer invaluable insights, advice, and even referrals.
Informational interviews also grant access to informal hiring networks—where roles are shared before they’re publicly posted. These conversations can be the key to discovering roles you hadn’t considered and building connections that lead to interviews.
Career Paths Outside Student Affairs
Numerous roles outside higher education draw on student affairs experience. Some common positions include:
- Learning Community Manager
- Student Success Coach
- Admissions Representative
- Academic Program Coordinator
- Education and Training Manager
- Enrollment Services Specialist
- Relationship Manager
- Course Support Representative
- Learner Advocate
- Training and Development Specialist
These titles highlight the demand for professionals with advising, mentoring, and program management backgrounds—core strengths for most student affairs practitioners.
Insights from the Field: Survey Findings
To gain a broader perspective, I surveyed members of the Expatriates of Student Affairs Facebook group. Participants (n=29) came from diverse functional areas, including academic advising, financial aid, Greek life, residence life, and career services.
After leaving student affairs, these individuals found success in fields such as:
- Educational technology
- Nonprofit leadership
- Project management
- Human resources
- K–12 education
- Broadcasting
- Consulting
- Law enforcement
- Healthcare administration
- Marketing and communications
Top transferable skills cited included communication, counseling, event planning, assessment, budgeting, technology, and leadership development.
Final Thoughts
The decision to leave student affairs is deeply personal and often complex. But it can also be empowering. With thoughtful planning, honest reflection, and strategic action, student affairs professionals can successfully transition into new careers that honor their skills and passions.
This journey isn’t about abandoning your past—it’s about using it as a launchpad for what comes next. Whether your next chapter lies in education, nonprofit, corporate, or tech, the abilities you’ve cultivated in student affairs will continue to serve you well.